Process of manufacturing iron compounds



F. BALL. PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING IRON COMPOUNDS. APPL ICATION FILED MAR. I6. I920.

1,385,769. Patented July 26, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK BALL, OF FARMINGDALE, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WEST COAST KALSOMINE COMPANY, OF WEST BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORA- TION OF CALIFORNIA.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING IRON COMPOUNDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 26, 1921.

Application filed March 16, 1920. Serial No. 366,321.

To on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK BALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Farmingdale, Long Island, in the county of Nassauand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Manufacturing Iron Compounds, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of iron compounds and more particularly to processes such as described in the Patent No. 1327061 granted Jan. 6, 1920 to R. S. Penniman, Jr. and N. M. Zoph, and in the application Ser. No. 349,582 filed by R. S. Penniman, Jr. and N. M. Zoph, Jan. 5, 1920.

It is a general object of this invention to bring an oxidizing medium in direct and positive contact with metallic iron and a more special object to bring a solution of ferrous sulfate in direct and positive contact with metallic iron in presence of an oxidizing agent.

Other more particular objects are- 1. To provide practical means for suspending metallic iron in the iron solution.

2. To provide means for circulating the iron solution past the metallic iron under maximum oxidizing conditions.

3. To provide means for insuring the exposure of a maximum of to the action of the solution.

4. To provide means for effecting a constant and positive renewal of the fresh ferric sulfate solution in contact with the iron.

5..To provide means for promoting the reaction of the solution upon the iron and thereby increasing its speed and efiiciency.

For a clearer understanding of the objects of the invention, the principles of operation and the result attained, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which is a sectional view of a simple arrangement of the elements embodying the invention.

In the drawing 1 is an acid-proof tank of wood or other suitable material containing the working solution. A column of acidproof material, such as a tile pipe 2, is set in the tank upon acid-proof blocks, for instance timbers This is merely one convenient way by which, similar to the placing of a tile pipe in awell, entrance of the liquid into. t l 1e',.pipe is facilitated. It is understood surface of the iron that any other means for permitting the unrestrained fiow of 'thesolution into the pipe is within the scope of the invention.

A conduit such as a pipe 4 preferably terminatingin an upwardly directed outlet or nozzle 5 extends through the wall of the tank and through or between the timbers 3 and serves to discharge the oxidizing agent, which may preferably be air. In order to promote oxidation according to the processes defined in the patent and application above referred to the air may be heated before entrance into the apparatus.- If desired, steam may be passed through the pipe 4 concurrently with the air. This feature is not shown in the drawing since it may be carried out in various ways and is not material to operation of the present invention.

In the top portion the pipe 2is provided with a plurality of openings 6 preferably above the normal level of the solution in the tank, or, as an alternative, the pipe 2 might be cut ofi at the level of the openings 6.

The operation is as follows:

The metallic iron, preferably in the form of strips or thin sheets 7 defining a. maximum of surface per unit pipe 2 so as to substantially fill it and yet permit the solution to freely pass therethrough.

When the air is. admitted under pressure, it causes a violent agitation of the solution in the pipe and at the same time exerts a lifting action, causing a rise of the solution and overflow through the orifices 6. At the same time that portion of the solution discharged through the orifices 6 is replaced by a like quantity entering at the bottom. The rate of discharge. and replacement per unit of time determines, of course, the rate of flow through the pipe and this rate may be controlled, within certain limits, by controlling the air pressure and the quantity of air admitted per unit of time;

' The nozzle 5, it is understood, is so chosen or so set as to provide, at a certain air pressure, normally the most favorable rate of circulation. It is understood that a plurality of air jets may be used instead of a single one. There is no limit to the adjustability or to the modification of the system in respect to the volume of air or the pressureapplied.

While I have shown for the sake-of simplicity, a cylindrical tube or pipe, I also contemplate the use of other tubular bodies.

T claim 7 1. The process of producing iron compounds, which consists in supporting pieces of metallic iron in a vessel and passing a stream of an oxidizing medium through the vessel and through the body of iron therein.

2. The process of producing iron comounds, which consists in supporting pieces of metallic iron in an elongated vessel and passing through the vessel and the bodyot iron therein a stream of an oxidizing medium comprising an aqueous-fluid, adapted to act as a vehicle for an oxidizing agent, and the oxidizing agent.

3. The process of producing iron comounds, which consists in supporting pieces of "metallic iron in a vessel and. passing through the vessel and the body of iron therein avstrearn of an oxidizing medium comprising an aqueous liquid adapted to act as a vehicle for air, and air.

'iron salt solution and forcing air 4C. The process of producing iron compounds, which consists in supporting pieces bular vessel containing pieces of iron in an together with the solution through said vessel and the body of iron contained therein.

In testimon whereof, ll ailix my signature.

FRANK rant,

an oxidizing medium- 

